Embellish It! Senior Challenge

Embellishments are the finishing touch that can bring a project from mediocre to amazing in just a matter of minutes, but they also can get to be expensive, especially some of the more intricate versions available on the market today. This month I have challenged the senior design team to take the path that Michelle Wooderson has explored lately (such as demonstrated in her posts HERE and HERE) and create their own embellishments with supply basics in their stash. Not only is Michelle's whole idea fun & economical, it also allows you to customize color & style to give you coordination possibilities for nearly any type of project.

I thought I would start you off with my new little exploration, the world of crocheted flowers. There are several big-name manufacturers that carry these little homespun beauties, but they can run anywhere from 50-75 cents each and the color selection can tend to be quite limiting. I decided to go on the hunt for a crochet pattern I could use to create my own, but after hours and hours of research and trial runs, I never found anything that I was completely happy with. So I combined several aspects from different patterns that I liked and created my own method. It's quick, easy and inexpensive to build your own little stash of crocheted flowers, ready to use in your paper crafting adventures.

I have created a step by step tutorial that even a beginner could follow along with.

4 yards DMC cotton embroidery floss (about half a standard package)

US size 2 crochet hook

You will notice that I decided to use DMC embroidery floss instead of the traditional crochet thread. I chose this merely for the color availability. I was able to find the floss in all of the Papertrey colors and with that as a resource I will be able to create these flowers to coordinate with all of my projects.

If you would like to see my list of PTI/DMC numbers, you can access it HERE.

ABBREVIATIONS

(you can click on each stitch for step-by-step video tutorials that I located)

Step 4: create a small petal in the first sc using the following pattern (sc, 3dc, sc).

Step 5: continue creating a small petal in every other sc with the same pattern (creating 5 petals total). sl st to join with first sc of first petal. You can stop here and fasten off for a small flower that measures approximately 1-inch in diameter. Or you can continue to create a more elaborate 2-layer flower.

Step 6: flipping to the back of the flower, sc down through base opening of small petal.

Step 7: ch 3, and sc through next petal base opening.

Step 8: repeat 4 more times in each opening. sl st through first sc, creating a series of 5 loops total.

Step 9: create a large petal in the first loop using the following pattern (sc, 5dc, sc).

step 10: continue creating a large petal in each of the remaining 4 loops with the same pattern. sl st to join with first sc of first petal. COMPLETE! These really only take a matter of minutes to put together, and once you have the hang of it, it's something you can do while watching tv or waiting in the doctor's office.

On a side note, I wanted to take a moment to thank Kelly for particpating with us for the past two months as our Distinguished Guest Designer! She has inspired me SO much in the different ways to utilize our products and she has been an absolute joy to work with. We are thrilled that she will be continuing on with us in her participation within the Timeless Template Team. Look for more of her work during the upcoming countdown week and in the future! Thank you, Kelly!!!

I hope you have all been inspired to start mass producing your own embellishments after all of the idea springboards that have been presented today! We would love o see what you do! Please feel free to leave a link in the comments section! Happy stamping!

Supplies for my project, please visit individual team members blogs for complete instructions & supplies for their projects…

Author Nichole Heady

Join the discussion 114 Comments

I just posted a link to a crochet flower tutorial on twitter about 20 minutes ago. 🙂 I will be posting another one now to your tutorial. How awesome all of these ideas are. Great job by all the designers.

Thank you, Nichole! About a year ago, I stopped buying premade embellishments and decided to focus my crafting dollars on supplies to make my own…..whatever I want to make with it! I have oodles and oodles of premade embellishments and while so many of them are simply devine, they often are either not exactly what I am looking for at the moment or I just forget that I have them! So, I think it is FABULOUS that you have challenged your DT to show us their fantastic ideas for ways to make our own embellishments…..with PTI’s great supplies, of course! :>

THANK YOU for sharing the pattern for the crochet flowers!! I’ve loved that look but it’s just not in my budget right now … love that I can make my own. Now if only they turn out as pretty as yours …. You are a doll 🙂

Hi. Love your tutorial. I’ve made a few of my own embellies as well, probably not so much because of the $ factor, but more to do with not being able to find exactly the right colour, style etc. A short while ago I came across an idea on the web to create paper casting embellishments using rubber stamps. I think you will like this idea too.

Nichole – you are the BESTEST!!! I have been looking for a crocheted pattern for several months and could never find one I liked or the size I wanted. Thank you for doing this for me! I just love these little crocheted flowers.

Wow! After looking at each blog I’m feeling very inspired. Also wondering, Nichole, if you’re going to add Kelly to your sidebar along with Maggie — which would be helpful to me (and I’m sure others!) as I often jump from your blog to those of the DT. And now I just need to learn how to crochet…

WOW – thanks for all the hard work on the tutorial for the flowers – I can’t wait to try it (I have never crocheted in my life!). I love the DMC list too – again thank you! I have found a lot of inspiration here today, from you and the other designers – thank you all!

Great topic!
I love making my own embellishments! Always surfing around the net to find new ideas and inspiration. Actually put a post on my blog yesterday, showing some cute strawberry charms I made the day before.
And today you have this great topic about homemade embellishments! Great! Love it!
Once and a while I get the taste of croching flowers and as I am, I am fully into it LOL!! And guess what: have been croching flowers for days! I do them before sleeping LOL!! Just a few every night… I am weird, I know! But….I really like your tutorial on this flower chroching and I will sure try this recipe! It seems to taste great!

Lovely embellishment ideas!!! I learned to crotchet flowers a little while ago. I used Learning to Crochet by Klutz (yeah, the kids book) If you are looking into learning how to crochet this book is fun it has cute projects (plus a similar flower) and is kid friendly (if you have a little girl you’d like to teach). Thanks again ladies for the inspiration 🙂

Nichole!!! Wowzers…love, love this pattern and will have to try it. I have been searching and searching for the perfect crochet flower pattern to use on my cards and you did it! Sweetness for me. thanks for sharing.

I also purchased some DMC floss this morning….There is a discrepancy on the color chart. Sweet blush is DMC # 225 (not 3804) and Raspberry Fizz is DMC# 3804 (not 225) looks like numbers were accidently switched. Thought you’d like know.

I just learned how to crochet flowers the other night. I saw the ones that Melissa Bickford’s mom makes and decided to learn for myself. I had never crocheted before, so I looked for tutuorials online and ended up learning from a video on you tube. I say this because I wanted everyone to know they can do it, too, even if they haven’t crocheted before. It just takes a little patience. Thanks for the new pattern. I will be trying this one today.

I love your crocheted flower pattern. I’ve been trying out various patterns I found online and nothing suited me…until now. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this flower and I plan to make many of them in all of the coordinating PTI colors. Thank you so much for sharing. You’re the best! 🙂

What a clever idea to use DMC floss!!! I have been crocheting similar flowers using the limited colors of crochet thread so I’ll be sure to pick up some floss next time I’m at the craft store. Thx for the DMC/Papertrey Ink color comparison! You’re amazing!

PERFECT project to work on while waiting in the carpool line at school, dentist office or at the lake this summer!! Packable, portable and pretty! I can’t wait to pick up my crochet hooks again! Thanks for the very clear instructions!!

OMG! Thank you so much for the crochet pattern. This is too funny, because I recently taught myself to knit. I made a friend a baby blanket. Then I decided that I’d teach myself to crochet…why not right? I had seen the book on knitted and crocheted flowers and thought maybe someday…scaned the internet for hours searching for free patterns. I went to the store just today and bought a kit to teach meselfself to crochet. My Grandma had taught me a few things when I was little. So, I am picking up crocheting faster than knitting. Long story cut short….Thank you for the crochet pattern. It is just what I’ve been looking for and wanted.
As always, you do such amazing things.

Thanks to the entire DT for all the inspiration today! I will definately be duplicating several of the ideaas. Thanks a ton for the crocheted flower pattern. I don’t know how you always do it just exactly the way I would want to do it. I searched extensively online for just the right flower pattern and tried several without much success. I mean, I made the flowers but they weren’t the right size, couldn’t find the right color yarn….yada, yada, yada. It never occured to me to use DMC floss. To bad it’s almost 10pm and I can’t run out and buy thread now.

Thank you so much! I struggled a bit to get the second layer done and in the right position. But, after a few trial/error attempts, I got it figured out. It’s great, and you’re right, now that I’ve got it down…super quick! Again, many thanks for taking the time to make this and share the pattern!

LOVE the idea of using embroidery floss for these! I recently started making my own flowers and found several colors of crochet thread, but they are such large spools, I will probably never use all of the thread. Plus, embroidery floss comes in a ton of colors. Thanks so much for sharing these awesome ideas!
Diane

Nicole, thank you very much for this great tutorial and pattern. I have been haunting the web for a good crochet pattern for a flower like this. I have so many DMC yarn I can make a boatful of flowers.
Eveline.

Love all these tips! I think I love making my own embellishments as much as card making and scrapbooking itself. I love the challenge! By the way, I tried your crocheted flower pattern, and it’s wonderful! As usual, my tension was a little too tight on the first couple I made (a common problem I have) which caused the ‘inside’ flower to poof up a little bit more than yours, but since I was making them in yellow (just happened that was the first yarn I picked up) they ended up looking just like daffodils!! Such a totally cool accident! But, I fixed my tension problems and the others turned out great and look just like yours! It’s a great pattern-fast, easy, and pretty! Thank you thank you thank you!

Nichole, dear, this ROCKS!! I’m a crocheter but didn’t have time to find a pattern nor am I advanced enough to create my own – so this ROCKS!! I’m going on a road trip in a few weeks and this will be the PERFECT take along project for me and my sister to work on together perhaps by the pool! 😉 Thanks soooo much!

I am going to try these flowers; they are soooo cute. Can you tell me if the hook you used is a stainless (my grandmother had a set and not sure they even make them anymore) or aluminum, which is what I have purchased in the past. They have letter markings and not numbers. My grandmother’s set does not have a size 2. Thanks for any help in locating the proper size.

Nicole you are awesome, PTI is awesome, your design team is awesome! I spent an hour last week looking on the web for the flower pattern. I sort of gave up for the time being, then there you were with an even cuter one! I tell everyone about PTI. Thanks to you (an the deisgn team) for the great ideas . Month after month you guys give us super new ideas using different products to create unique and fun things!

Did you use regular crochet thread, like you would use for counted cross stitch – with the 6 threads? Or did you use the DMC pearl cotton? I bought the pearl cotton today (which looks like a giant version of the other) and am going to give it a try. Hopefully I bought the right thing! Thanks!

HOLY MOLY is all I have to say! I have been thinking lately about how I could make my own crochet flowers and I am not good at crocheting, AT ALL. I come here and YOU have the perfect tutorial on how to do it and it looks so simple! I can’t thank you enough! Have I mentioned that YOU ROCK?!

Nicole … you are so very good to us, PTI fanatics! I can’t wait for your posts and you’ve got such a great design team! I wish I had 8 more hours in a day to try all the projects and this one I’ll be trying real soon… I think I have almost 70% of DMC colours already! Thanks loads!

Thank you! Yesterday, my six year old daughter watched me do the happy dance after reading your blog, and I was in the best mood all day because I have been looking and looking for how to easily crochet a small flower and there you were with the answers. I bought all of the yarn colors (though I didn’t see my favorite Aqua Mist on your list) and last night, I crocheted my first flower.

I’m especially happy because I’d forgotten everything my grandmother taught me years ago, so that first flower is in memory of her. Thank you so much for taking SO much time to put this together – I appreciate the links, the tutorial, and the outcome. Your products are fabulous, but you and your team are the buttercream icing on any kind of cake.

I hope you enjoy your week as much as you’ve helped me to enjoy mine. Thanks again.

I’ve tried the crochet flowers demonstrated by Nicki Estes in her April 6th blog. They turned out well if I don’t say so myself, and I’ve gotten a lot faster. To get them to match my papers, I died them using distress reinkers. I haven’t tried any other reinkers, but I bet the Palette and the StayzOn will work well. Oh, I do love this hobby!!!

Gorgeous card! Love the simplicity and that flower! I will be making some of these tonight in front of the tube. I have gotten my flower patterns from various sources and have been experimenting too. Thanks for the great tutorial!

I have been following your blog for almost a year now. We have a small card club and I am making crocheted flowers for their Christmas in July presents…thanks for another pattern I can use for one more flower for each of them! I too use the embroidery floss for color choices–the varigated are beautiful!

I love your pattern! I’ve been making them like crazy out of all kinds of yarns and crochet thread and using different sizes of needles. I’ve got these little flowers of all sizes and colors now! They are just so super easy and fun!

I was so excited to see this post. My grandma is here visiting and she crochets! I printed off the directions, went and bought all the DMC colors, and grandma has been making flowers like crazy for me. Thanks Nicole.

Dang! I so love your flowers but I knit & never learned to crochet. Yours ARE the best! Awesome of you to share. I have searched for knitted ones online, & like you, I don’t see just want i want. I WANT yours in KNITTED form! Maybe some kind soul will see this and post one. I will keep checking.

And I LOVE your products. I always get my white cs from you and of course some other ‘extras’ (wink) when i order!!!

Thank you so much Nichole! I sure hope this pattern turns into a quick link from your site. I’ve been really wanting to find a pattern and give it a try myself. It’s been forever since I’ve crocheted but this just makes it too easy not to “just do it”! Amazing how you just “know” what’s on my mind and what is of interest to me. So awesome!

Great idea! I’ve been looking for a nice small flower to start with my very limited crochet skills. Thanks so much. Hey have you ever tried to dye string to match the PT colors? I’ve never tried it but seems like it would be very cool.

Hi, thanks Elizabeth for the inspiration for others. I am a senior who has crocheted for years and I have an etsy store(karensneedle) with some crochet flowers and other embellies in it. I have tried and use several different types of fiber to create unique flowers and I do sell my flowers rather inexpensively depending on the design,the above comments re store are for those who do not crochet or do not want to take the time to crochet. I sell these to supplement my social security and to have extra $$$ for scrappy supplies. It is so much fun to create your own embellies. Thanks to all the gals who created great embellies and tutorials for this thread. BTW the tutorials are fantastic. Thanks again.

I LOVE your site! So far everything I have seen is Beautiful!!! There is sooo much to look at! I think it is great to see people sharing ideas and tips etc. My husband says I should put things up but first I would have to get one of my kids to all of the computer part. (also I’m alittle intimated by others…I’m my own worst enemy. Once again GREAT ideas…
God Bless you & yours
Suzanne

So I decided to translate it to Icelandic, mostly for my doghter living ín Denmark but also for my scrapbook freands at http://www.scrapbook.is.
Hope you don´t mind.
Please let me know if you don´t want me to post this.

LOVE this crochet tutorial! I just started crocheting a few weeks ago and have been searching for a flower tutorial that I could follow. I’ve found it! Your pic’s are awesome, but even better than those are the instructions with them. Super easy to understand even for me! Thank you! There’s one thing that I can’t figure out still. Could you clarify in step #9 exactly where to crochet the pattern into the 1st loop? Thru the same little hole as before or what? Help, please!

Oh you are an enabler. I pointed these out to DH and he said that Hanukkah isn’t that far, Maybe if I waited they might show up. I can wait. Maybe.
Ooooo! Thanks! I have been looking for just this thing!! I am going to order right now!!! Bye!

Please help!! I am trying to follow your instructions here. But am having difficulty moving from step 8 to step 9. Can you give more guidance as how to transition from making the 5 loops into making the larger petals? I’m lost. Thanks for any assistance you can provide. Very cute embellishment!!

what great ideas!! Love your crocheted flowers, I have listed them on my blog with the things I want to try. Thank you for sharing!!! A way to use up all that embroidery floss I have stashed in a drawer!

Thank you so much Nichole for the pattern. I have tried the pattern and I am so pleased with the result. Only difference for me in the Uk is it costs 79pence for a skein of thread so not quite as inexpensive as you can do in the USA.
Marion

Hello (: Thanks so much for the lovely tutorial. I was wondering for 3dc to make the small petals, does that “3dc” stand for 3 of double crochets or three double crochets in same stitch? I used three double crochets in the same stitch, but my petals are awful 😛 So I’m guessing it should be 3 of dc. (: I just want a confirmation. hehe thanks so much!

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Such a great idea! Found you via a series of links back on Pinterest, and linked direct to this page on my blog this afternoon – http://tinyurl.com/unpinning-pinterest if you want to check it out. Thank so much for sharing!

So, I am a few years behind the rest of the world in creating embellishments. I love to crochet and just found your tutorial on these wonderful flowers. I would love this tutorial is an easy to print format, which for me is a PDF file. I copied down the instructions and will give them a try. Thank you for the wonderful tutorial.

I tried to find an email to say “thank you” personally for the embroidery floss flower pattern. I love colors and have always thought maybe embroidery floss would work for small things such as flowers. Still, I wanted to SEE where someone had done it before neatly. I’m now very excited about this new prospect! So, thank you from the bottom of my colorful heart!

The pattern is wrong written. Step 5 – if you keep creating [sc, 3 dc, sc] in every other sc – you will end up with 10 petals, because the pattern said to make 10 of them. You, however, have 5 petals obviously. So something is wrong with the pattern.

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